The verdict in three sentences
A distributor extranet for a manufacturer working with 120 resellers costs between EUR 30,000 and 70,000 in 2026, including EUR 8,000 to 20,000 for ERP synchronization. The return comes first from the sales team: 300 avoided calls per week about prices, stock and warranties. With hosting at EUR 150 to 400 per month, the project pays back in 12 to 18 months for most mid-sized manufacturers.
What a distributor extranet includes in 2026
The typical scope covers five needs: viewing each distributor's net prices, downloading up-to-date documentation, checking availability, filing a warranty claim and tracking orders.
| Module | Indicative 2026 cost (excl. VAT) | Problem solved |
|---|---|---|
| Core, authentication and account management | EUR 6,000 to 12,000 | Secure access per company and per user |
| Net prices per distributor and terms | EUR 5,000 to 12,000 | No more Excel price lists sent by email |
| Document library (sheets, manuals, CAD) | EUR 4,000 to 9,000 | One current version, search by part number |
| Warranty and after-sales claims with photos | EUR 5,000 to 10,000 | Processing time cut in half |
| Stock availability and order tracking | EUR 4,000 to 8,000 | Fewer calls to sales admin |
| ERP sync (SAP, Sage X3, Microsoft Dynamics) | EUR 8,000 to 20,000 | Prices and stock always accurate |
| Total | EUR 30,000 to 70,000 | 14 to 24 weeks |
Per-distributor permissions: the part that needs the most care
Each distributor sees its own prices, authorized product lines and territory. A misconfiguration exposes confidential discounts to a competitor. The permission model must be designed before the first line of code.
| Permission level | What it enables | Complexity | Indicative extra cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per company | Distributor-specific prices and orders | Low | Included |
| Per user (buyer, technician, management) | Technicians see documentation, not prices | Medium | EUR 1,500 to 3,000 |
| Per product line | Distributors authorized on certain lines only | Medium | EUR 2,000 to 4,000 |
| Per territory | Prospects and leads assigned by area | High | EUR 3,000 to 6,000 |
| Per partner tier (silver, gold) | Exclusive discounts and content | Medium | EUR 2,000 to 4,000 |
Running costs and measurable gains
| Indicator | Before extranet | After 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| Calls and emails to sales admin per week | 420 | 120 |
| Warranty processing time | 12 days | 5 days |
| Price errors on orders | 3 to 5% | Under 0.5% |
| Documentation versions in circulation | 3 to 4 per product | 1 |
| Hosting and monitoring | EUR 0 | EUR 150 to 400 per month |
| Ongoing development | EUR 0 | EUR 6,000 to 12,000 per year |
Mini case study
Thomas, sales director of a material handling equipment manufacturer in Berlin, sells through 120 distributors in Germany and Austria. His extranet is quoted at EUR 52,000, including EUR 14,000 for the SAP Business One connection, plus EUR 300 per month for hosting and EUR 9,000 per year for maintenance.
The 300 avoided weekly calls represent, at 6 minutes per call, 30 hours per week, or about 1,400 hours per year. At a fully loaded cost of EUR 40 per hour for a sales admin assistant, the gain reaches EUR 56,000 per year. Adding fewer price errors, estimated at EUR 18,000 of avoided credit notes, the annual gain exceeds EUR 74,000. After deducting EUR 12,600 of recurring costs, the extranet pays back in about 10 months.
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FAQ
Extranet or B2B portal with online ordering?
If more than 30% of your orders still come by email or phone, start with the information extranet at EUR 30,000 to 50,000. The online ordering module can then be added for EUR 15,000 to 30,000.
Which ERP is the most difficult?
Legacy ERPs without an API (on-premise versions over 10 years old) require scheduled file exchanges and push sync costs toward EUR 18,000 to 20,000. SAP Business One, Sage X3 and Microsoft Dynamics have more direct connectors.
How many distributors justify the project?
From 40 to 50 active distributors, the volume of avoided calls is usually enough to pay back the extranet in under 24 months.
How do we ensure distributor adoption?
Reserve some content for the extranet (current-year price lists, new products, training) and train your 20 largest accounts by video call. Manufacturers who do this reach 70 to 85% active accounts within 6 months.
Can the extranet be multilingual?
Yes, a second language adds EUR 3,000 to 6,000 to the project, excluding translation of technical documentation.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your number of distributors, your ERP and your priority modules: we will price the extranet, the synchronization and the adoption plan. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
